Fearless by Max Lucado

When our kids are fearful at bedtime, we’ve taught them to personalize and recite II Timothy 1:7 – “God has NOT given ME a spirit of fear, but of POWER, and LOVE, and a SOUND MIND!” This book is the adult version of that meditation.

From the inside cover flap, a summary:

The one statement he [Jesus] made more than any other was this: “Don’t be afraid.” In this book, Max Lucado invites you to consider Jesus’ invitation to courage.

Fear will always knock on your door. Just don’t invite it in for dinner. And for heaven’s sake, don’t offer it a bed for the night.

The promise of Christ and the contention of these pages are simple: we can fear less tomorrow than we do today.

From the title it is clear that this book is about being Fearless, and most of us know what to expect from a Lucado book. No disappointments here. Lucado delivers a simple message through classic jokes, clever analogies, and crystalline Bible interpretation. His manner is fatherly and gentle – especially welcome considering his topic.

What surprised me most about this book was how often I heard myself saying, “Oh!” or “Hmmmm!” at the close of every neatly wrapped chapter. No one ties up concepts in punchy bows like Max Lucado. Considering the timeliness of this message, however, I also found the book authentic, valuable, and rich with comfort. Who hasn’t been scared to bits over Swine Flu (thanks, Dr. Gupta, for easing my mind on that one) or terrified by state of affairs in the Middle East?

I’m usually one to keep my cool on matters such as disease and natural disaster (unless I watch too many episodes of House), but Lucado also touches on more nuanced fears. My favorite comes from Chapter 12, “The Shadow of Doubt: Fear That God is Not Real.” This chapter alone is worth the ENTIRE BOOK. I loved it. I won’t spoil it for you, but Lucado works his exegetical magic here and provides two clear methods for battling doubt. And with these tools we can win the fight!

My conclusion on Fearless by Max Lucado? Easy read. Timely message. Revelation of Jesus. This book really could make a difference in people’s lives.

*This review brought to you thanks in part to the Thomas Nelson Book Reveiw Bloggers Program!

www.brb.thomasnelson.com